This owl is documented in the mountains of Mexico. The American Ornithological Society committee account notes its original description from high-elevation pine forest in Veracruz and identifies its ash-gray coloration as a distinguishing feature.
The committee account identifies ash-gray coloration as one of this owl's traits and says its toes are fully feathered.
The owl was first described from high-elevation pine forest in the mountains of Veracruz. This is the original locality's habitat, not a description of every habitat used by the species.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.